Which defender has the most goals in the top five leagues? Nuno Tavares who surely will be back at Arsenal next season!
It may seem like an oxymoron, but it is a reality. Nuno Tavares, who never adapted to the Premier League and left on loan from Arsenal, stands out in Ligue 1 and Marseille, being the best of his kind in the top five leagues!
1.5 year ago, Arsenal acquired Nuno Tavares from Portugal on a regular transfer, as a key member of the rotation and a full-back with excellent potential to be Kieran Tierney’s back-up.
The goal of course was to adapt to the English conditions and to win a place in the “gunners” roster, with Mikel Arteta knowing that the Scot often gets injured and is used to missing about 1/3 of the season, during which plays in the Premier League.
It quickly became apparent that Tavares wasn’t ready, having wild fluctuations in his performance. He was never stable, he had serious problems defensively and in general in the tactical part, he stood out for his physical qualities, but he also seemed to be under a lot of psychological pressure, a fact that became clear from “All or nothing” – the Arsenal documentary – in which the Portuguese has an appointment with the team psychologist to discuss being alone most of the day.
The best decision for both sides was to go their separate ways, but without Arsenal selling Tavares, believing strongly that a full-back with such physical qualities might prove useful in the future.
He left on loan at Marseille and is by far France’s best left-back at the moment. He scored six goals in 20 appearances, having managed to be the only defender in the top five leagues to score 6+ goals in an entire season, in all competitions!
https://twitter.com/VipArsenal/status/1627419437367271425
Hopefully, he found the back of the net against Toulouse for the second time this season and as oxymoronic as it may sound, compared to his performance last year, Tavares is earning a place in Arsenal’s summer training camp with his performances.
After all, you can’t not give a chance to the leading – defender – scorer in the whole of Europe… Especially if you are Mikel Arteta, who suggested his acquisition!
Dimitris Manakos
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Whyever would a talented player, though one who is NOT a defender at all but a midfield player instead, be presumed NOT to outscore European defenders!?
WHY TAVARES WAS PLAYED AS A DEFENDER IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHEN HE PLAINLY IS NOT SUITED TO BE ONE , ESCAPES MY LOGICAL MIND.
I say more too; the art, in general, of being a true defender ,is far rarer nowadays than back when AW was in his pomp.
I speak not only of our club but in general. In fact WE DO now have decent defenders , which is unusual in our clubs history, this last 17 years or so, until very recently.
👍 jon, I would rate Saliba and Tierney decent defenders at Arsenal, but it is an area where Tavares has to improve markedly. Your observation that he is more suited to midfield is soumd.
Hopefully, we can get money for him.
And let’s get it clear he isn’t a defender.
No good whatsoever for us.
He hasn’t a brain.
Tavares will be back at arsenal next season that’s why there was no oplication to buy given to Marseille
If we still play with the inverted LB tactics next season, I think he will get loaned out again. Unless Arteta plans to convert him into a winger, which could be a revelation due to his attacking abilities
He had a knack of attacking and driving towards the box alot last season.. If you remember when he scored early against utd home last season he was never one for winning the ball back but loved going forward. He has alot of raw ability with experience and coaching he can be a top player his still young …
He has an adept weaker foot and scored six goals in Ligue 1, so I guess he can be a good winger
I would prefer him to stick to his current position left back or left winger back, I don’t want a scenario just like what happened to Maitland Niles to happen a player who is used almost everywhere in the field coursing confusion.
Maybe Maitland-Niles couldn’t focus on his development because he was assigned in many positions
Tavares can avoid that kind of mess if he is trained for the LW role only
Talking about Maitland Niles, maybe the youngster still has a future at Arsenal, the kid was immense for Southampton against Chelsea.
At no time Mudryk could go past him in that one nil against Chelsea.
His man-marking ability is impressive. If Tierney leaves in the summer, maybe Maitland-Niles can compete with Zinchenko for the inverted LB role
Agree plus he will be back a more mature player, he deserves another bite at the cherry in my opinion.
Maybe Maitland Niles will finally realize that his coaches’ (whether clubs or country) assessment, that he is a better winger/wing back than midfielder, is correct!
He never suited out style.
He is wing back, so not really a defender, and we are not playing that well.
Same for Sambi Lokonga.
Both decent players but have not fitted in. Best for everyone to move on quickly
I wonder how he would work in our current system. As many have pointed out, zinchenko isn’t really a left back, and often struggles defensively, but his ability to step into midfield makes him a vital cog in our system. Tavares is similarly not the best defensively, but I’ve often thought he has some traits you expect of a midfielder in the way he controls the ball and the passes he chooses to make. However, he was inconsistent when given the chance before – the reason for that inconsistency and whether he can overcome it is the big question.
My suspicion is that he’ll be sold in the summer – we should get a good price for him given the number of goals he’s scored (a lot of them very high quality as well). I think there’s a brilliant player in there, I just don’t think we need to take a chance with him.
Many people here been talking about the prospect of selling Balogun which actually wouldn’t happen same case with Tavares he will be back to Arsenal were he belongs
I certainly don’t think balogun will be sold – I think he wants to be and sees himself as a part of arsenal long term, and he’s fine everything arteta could have asked of him on loan. I also think he’ll be happy to be a part of the squad next season as long as he has a role where he’ll get game time.
I think Tavares is different – I don’t believe he has the same affinity for arsenal (naturally – he’s not been with us very long), and I think he’ll be keen for a first team role, as he’s shown he’s capable at marseille (which is a big club).
I could be completely wrong! This is just my reading of it from afar.
It looks as though we might have Ligue 1’s top-scoring forward & defender next season to add to our own high-scoring team. Watch out Champion’s League.😃
If Tierney moves on at the end of the season, which is a distinct possibility ,Tavares is most certainly not a guy who could be relied upon as a deputy for Zinchenko.I suspect Tavares will be sold on at the end of the year as I cannot see a role for him in the Arsenal team.He is a tremendous athlete but as a footballer, he does not have the ball skills, intelligence or composure to become a class act.
Arsenal refused the proposal by Marseille to buy him at the end of the season so Tavares will be back at Arsenal next season
They did you are right.
👍👍 unless the offer is too good to refuse (rather than a pre-agreed offer to buy).
For Grandad
Agree with you about Tierney planning to move on as he is too good a player to be a backup.
Also in agreement with you about Tavares @ LB. Only solution if we do not want to buy big is to promote Kiwior or alternatively, do not part ways with Maitland-Niles who is doing well for Southampton and then move Zinchenko into midfield as a competition for Xhaka.
I would keep Tavares as a backup for Martinelli or Saka as these guys need a rest.
I like your ideas regarding kiwior and AMN – they make sense. It looks like kiwior has played in defensive midfield quite a bit, actually.
If Kiwior is more DM, then he can be a backup for TP. AMN becomes main LB with OZ being the backup when needed assuming KT is definitely moving on.
Nuno Tavares will return to do what? Take up residence in Arteta’s doghouse!! Last time I checked, Tierney was still living there….for reasons unknow. FREE TIERNEY!!
The doghouse will become crowded if all loan players return.
I think Tavares would be extremely effective as cover for Martinelli. As many have said, he’s no defender, but he has the physicality to track back, so if defending isn’t his primary role I think he’d actually excel at it. He’s proven he is good going forward, so if he’s used properly he could really be good for us.
I would only keep him at at the club as a left winger back up option as this is his best position imho
Arsenal have big hopes for Tavares, that is why he was sent on loan. Tavares will stay an Arsenal player at the expense of a.n. other. Not Zinchenko.
Tavares wad plain awful every time MA gave him a chance. Can he really change that much in one season and improve us next season? Doubt it. The EPL is just different to Ligue 1. The EPL has a very cruel way of splitting the men from the boys! Would be great to see him turn things round though and possibly prove himself in an Arsenal shirt once again!
He wasn’t – he was brilliant in his first few games for us, then he started against Liverpool, got taught a lesson and fell off a cliff. He can come back from that, but it depends on him.
Sorry Dimitris but your statement that Tavares is the best left back in France is not correct.
From what I read on French sports website he is pretty much seen in France the same way he was in England: as an inconsistent player with big ups and downs.
I’ll be very surprised if he’s part of Arsenal squad next season
Surely Nuno Tavares loan need to be extended for his development to continue.
Though bless with raw talent, he still has a lot to learn in my opinion
I hope not. This guy has nothing but athleticism. His technique is terrible, his first tuch is nas, gis crossings are ridiculous, his defending is bad, positioning bad. He can only drive trough the line using his speed if he has space. Without space, and most teams don’t give is space, he can only pass sideways since he can’t dribble.
I honestly think he is one of the worst players in an Arsenal shirt in recent decades. It was not a problem of form or experience but of quality. 22 years olds don’t suddenly gain quality.
He is not bad , but should play as a wingback in a back 3 defence not a 4 man defence.
Traverse had a serious altercation with Arteta in an Arsenal match that might had led to his loaned out last summer to cool things off.
Just like Saliba had with Arteta in his agitation of wanting to play. That might has led to his loanimg out. At which he did very well and returned to Arsenal a stronger player who Arteta can’t refuse but obliged.
I think similar thing could happen for Tavares next summer after he has returned to Arsenal.
Both Saliba and Tavares have one thing in common. Which is they both want to be playing regularly. And Arteta recognized they are very talented players who he can use. But he wasn’t ready yet to start playing Saliba in particular. And playing Tavares regularly due to some deficiencies he has seen in their inreadiness and game.
Hence, necessitated the necessity to send both players omit loan to learn to be patient and to further develop their game. I would think.
A take no pleasure in criticizing Arsenal players, this kid loan should be extended and sold in a Winter window for a tide price
Please sell. We already know he can’t defend. Let’s actually make a profit on a player for the first time in a long time.
Can’t defend that’s the same problem Zinchenko has and every Arsenal fan knows that if it was Tavares who did that plunder Zinchenko did again Villa how would it have been I ever think Tierney and Nuno are a better defenders than Zinch thought Zinchenko is liked by fans so he will always escape criticism
He and Zenchinko can be used in multiple locations if MA considers using them as a left CDM.
We still got Tierney, whom I think can provide a lot of MA—starts using him as an LB and playing Zenchinko as a left CDM instead of Xhaka sometimes.
Nuno is a wild card, maybe its a good idea to keep him
in our deck of cards. If he can be coached, even better…
Not good enough, even Marseille despite the goals has criticized Tavares questioning his defensive nous
If possible Arsenal should keep him. He has pace, physically strong and can score goals. If he can improve a bit defensively then very good asset in the middle or even in the front.
He is a young player with the potential to become better. Let’s hope the club can keep him UNLESS we receive an exceptionally good offer. We acquired him for around 8million euros so a bid around 25million euros will be one to be considered.